"We're to start at eight o'clock," answered Snap, and hurried
into his clothing with all possible speed.

By seven o'clock all of the boys had had a good breakfast and
then they bid their folks good-by and hurried down to the river.
It was a glorious morning, as clear as crystal after the rain,
and with just the faintest breeze blowing.

The stores had been packed away on Saturday in a boathouse nearby,
and it was an easy matter to transfer them to the rowboat. The
craft was rather crowded with goods and boys, but the lads made
the best of it. Only two could use the oars, so they took turns
at rowing, Snap and Whopper taking the blades at first, with Giant
in the bow and Shep in the stern, steering.

Nearly everybody in the town had heard about the outing, and many
came to see them off.

"They'll be back in a week," said one big boy, with a laugh.
"Just wait till they catch a rainy spell."

"You're only mad because you can't go along, Ham Spink!" cried Snap.

"Bah! I wouldn't go with you!" retorted Ham Spink. "When I go
out I'll do it in first-class style and with an A1 guide. No
little two-cent trip for me."

Hamilton Spink was the son of a very aristocratic man who had
come to Fairview a year before. Ham, as all the boys called him,